World Archives | Page 15 of 26

UN Development Aid Conference Opens in Spain Amid Global Funding Crisis

Fola Badmus3 months ago3 months ago03 mins

The United Nations Conference on Financing for Development opened on Monday in Seville, Spain, bringing together at least 50 world leaders to address urgent global challenges such as poverty, hunger, climate change, healthcare, and peace—despite mounting concern over declining international development aid. This once-in-a-decade summit, scheduled to run through Thursday, comes at a time of historic cuts to development assistance, most notably by the United States under President Donald Trump, who withdrew more than 80% of USAID programmes shortly after taking office in January. The US is absent from the conference, a move that has drawn criticism from several quarters. Key figures attending the summit include UN Secretary-General António Guterres, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Kenyan President William Ruto, alongside over 4,000 participants from civil society, the private sector, and global financial institutions. Adding to the funding shortfall, Germany, the United Kingdom, and France have also reduced their aid budgets, reallocating resources to meet rising NATO defence obligations driven by pressure from Washington. Global humanitarian organisation Oxfam International warns that the current wave of aid reductions represents the largest since 1960, and the UN estimates a staggering $4 trillion annual gap in development finance needed to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. The conference aims to restructure global financing in line with the 17 SDGs, adopted in 2015, but the withdrawal of major donors and shrinking budgets have cast doubt on the feasibility of achieving those targets within the remaining five-year window. A common declaration, negotiated earlier this month in New York, is expected to be signed during the conference. The document reaffirms commitments to gender equality, global cooperation, and reform of international financial institutions. While some, like Zambia’s UN ambassador Chola Milambo, hailed the declaration as a sign that multilateralism remains viable, Oxfam criticised the text for “lacking ambition,” arguing it prioritises the interests of the wealthy over the needs of the world’s poor. The conference continues amid street demonstrations in Seville, where activists are demanding a UN-led framework for sovereign debt resolution and greater accountability in international aid commitments.

UK court rejects bid to halt transfer of F-35 parts to Israel

Fola Badmus3 months ago3 months ago01 mins

A London court has ruled the UK government’s decision to allow the export of F-35 fighter jet components to Israel during its war on Gaza is lawful. The human rights group Al-Haq argued at a hearing last month that the decision was unlawful because it was in breach of Britain’s obligations under international law, including the Geneva Conventions. Tens of thousands of Palestinians – mostly women and children – have been killed by Israel in its bombardments of Gaza. But the High Court dismissed the group’s challenge in a written ruling. The United Kingdom contributes components to an international defence programme that produces and maintains the F-35s. Defence Secretary John Healey said a suspension would impact the “whole F-35 programme” and have a “profound impact on international peace and security”.

Death Toll in Gaza Rises to 45 Amid Intensified Israeli Strikes on Sunday

Fola Badmus3 months ago3 months ago01 mins

At least 45 Palestinians have been killed today as Israeli airstrikes intensified across the Gaza Strip, according to local medical sources. Twenty-nine of the deaths occurred in Gaza City and northern Gaza, with the heaviest bombardments reported in the Tuffah neighbourhood and Jabalia. Reports from the ground indicate that at least 10 homes have been destroyed in these areas. The death toll is expected to rise as rescue efforts continue amid the rubble, and as Israeli military operations show no sign of slowing.

Trump Doubles Down on Iran Nuclear Claims Amid Doubts Over Strike Effectiveness

Fola Badmus3 months ago3 months ago03 mins

U.S. President Donald Trump has once again asserted that recent American and Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities significantly crippled Tehran’s capabilities, despite growing skepticism from intelligence sources and the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog. Speaking on Fox News Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo, Trump insisted that Iran was “weeks away” from acquiring nuclear weapons before the U.S. and Israel launched strikes beginning June 13, targeting key facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. He claimed the sites were “obliterated,” and that the operation had “set Iran’s nuclear ambitions back by decades.” However, this narrative clashes with multiple intelligence reports and assessments from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which found no conclusive evidence that the facilities were permanently disabled. IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi stated that Iran could resume uranium enrichment “within months,” raising doubts about the long-term impact of the strikes. An IAEA report last month indicated that Iran had stockpiled over 400kg of uranium enriched to 60% purity—close to weapons-grade—enough to produce multiple nuclear weapons if enriched further. Meanwhile, Tehran maintains that its nuclear programme is strictly for civilian use. Trump dismissed media reports contradicting his version of events as “fake news,” claiming the bomb strikes penetrated the heavily fortified Fordow site with ease. “The bomb went through it like butter,” he said. He also denied reports that Iran had evacuated its enriched uranium from the facility ahead of the attack. On the geopolitical front, Trump revealed that U.S. trade negotiations with Canada were paused over a controversial digital tax. He also confirmed that he had found a group of “very wealthy people” to acquire TikTok, promising to reveal the buyer in two weeks after extending the app’s ban for another 90 days. Trump’s continued defiance on the Iran issue comes as Washington attempts to balance military posturing with diplomatic efforts in the aftermath of the recent 12-day conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the U.S.

Al-Quds Brigades Claim Attacks on Israeli Forces in Khan Younis

Fola Badmus3 months ago3 months ago01 mins

The Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), have claimed responsibility for a series of attacks targeting Israeli forces in southern Gaza. In a statement released on Saturday, the group said its fighters destroyed an Israeli military vehicle using a barrel bomb in the Abasan al-Kabira area, located east of Khan Younis. The Brigades also reported launching coordinated mortar attacks on Israeli troops and vehicles in multiple positions across southern Khan Younis, in joint operations with the Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas. The attacks come amid ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza, with both sides trading fire in what has become an intensifying and prolonged conflict in the region.

Mass Funeral Held in Tehran for Top Iranian Commanders, Scientists Killed in Israeli Strikes

Fola Badmus3 months ago3 months ago03 mins

Tens of thousands of mourners filled the streets of Tehran on Saturday as Iran held funeral ceremonies for 60 individuals—including senior military commanders, nuclear scientists, and civilians—killed in Israeli airstrikes earlier this month. Beginning at 8:00 a.m. local time (04:30 GMT), state television broadcast live images of large crowds clad in black, waving Iranian flags and holding portraits of the deceased. The ceremony, one of the largest in recent years, took place along the capital’s Azadi Street and featured coffins draped in the national flag, some bearing the images of fallen commanders in uniform. The funeral comes after a 12-day escalation that began on June 13 when Israel launched a wave of strikes across Iran, targeting military installations and nuclear sites. Among those killed were General Hossein Salami, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, head of the IRGC’s ballistic missile programme. Both were reportedly killed on the first day of the conflict. Other high-profile casualties included Major General Mohammad Bagheri and top nuclear physicist Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi. The state-run IRIB confirmed that four women and four children were also among the dead. The Israeli strikes, which reportedly received intelligence and logistical backing from the United States, prompted Iran to launch retaliatory missile attacks on Israeli positions and a U.S. military base in Qatar. The conflict concluded with a ceasefire earlier this week. During the funeral, mourners chanted slogans including “Death to America” and “Death to Israel,” signaling continued public outrage over the deadly assault and subsequent U.S. involvement. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has since dismissed American claims that Iran’s nuclear programme was severely damaged, accusing U.S. President Donald Trump of exaggerating the impact of the strikes. Saturday’s public mourning marked the first large-scale ceremony for military officials since the end of hostilities, underlining both the scale of loss and the tense atmosphere that persists in the region.

Trump Demands Iran Allow Nuclear Inspections Following US-Israeli Strikes

Fola Badmus3 months ago3 months ago02 mins

U.S. President Donald Trump has called on Iran to allow international inspectors access to its nuclear facilities, just days after coordinated U.S. and Israeli strikes targeted Iranian sites believed to be linked to its nuclear program. Speaking at a White House press conference on Friday, Trump stated that any future diplomatic engagement with Tehran must include inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) or another trusted entity. “We need the IAEA or somebody that we respect — including ourselves — to verify everything,” he said. The remarks follow heightened tensions in the region and come amid growing concern over the fallout from the recent strikes. In what many analysts view as a retaliatory move, Iran’s parliament has approved a bill suspending cooperation with the IAEA, despite its status as a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The legislation is seen as a direct response to the U.S.-Israeli operation, which Tehran has condemned as a violation of international law and its sovereignty. Iran has yet to respond directly to Trump’s demand, but officials have warned that continued pressure and military aggression will only harden Tehran’s nuclear stance and reduce the likelihood of diplomatic compromise.

Israeli Army Chief Links Strikes on Iran to Military Objectives in Gaza

Fola Badmus3 months ago3 months ago02 mins

Israel’s Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, has stated that recent Israeli strikes on Iran may serve to advance the country’s military objectives in Gaza, raising fresh concerns over the widening scope of the ongoing conflict. Speaking during a field tour of Israeli military positions in Gaza on Friday, Zamir claimed that Iran “has taken a heavy blow,” suggesting that the attack could directly support Israel’s operations in the Palestinian territory. “This may advance our objectives in Gaza,” he said. The comments come in the aftermath of Israel’s conclusion of “Operation Rising Lion,” which the military claims targeted elements of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. Zamir further commended Israeli ground forces operating in Gaza, stating that their combat experience was “a significant part of the [Israel Defense Forces]’ ability to act with force in Iran.” His remarks appear to blur the distinction between Israel’s military confrontations with Iran and its ongoing war in Gaza, drawing criticism from analysts who warn that linking both theaters of conflict could signal a dangerous escalation. Despite months of air and ground assaults that have resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of Palestinians and widespread destruction across Gaza, Zamir admitted that Israel’s declared military objectives in the territory remain unfulfilled. The statement has further fueled international concern over the growing regional dimension of Israel’s war efforts and the humanitarian toll in Gaza.